reynolds



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

G. H. REYNOLDS.

ELEVATOR GAGE AND SAFETY ATTACHMENT. No. 313,240.

Patented Mar. 3, 1885.

N. PETERS. Phom-Limo m her. Washingmm D. C.

ll rTED STATES PATENT OEEic GEORGE H. REYNOLDS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONEHALF TO CRANE BROTHERS -MANUFAO1URING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELEVATOR-CAGE AND SAFETY ATTACHMENT.

B'L ECIIEIQA TZON forming part of Letters Patent No. 313,240, dated March 3, 1885.

.-\p, lcatL n filed September 20, 1884. (No mode To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. REYNOLDS, of the cityand county of New York, in the State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Elevator-Cagcs and Safety Attachments 'llierefor, of which the following is a specification.

In modern elevators the car, cab, or platform which receives passengers or freight is held within or upon what is commonly known as the cage, which is of strong construc tion, and which is provided with the shoes or devices which bear upon the vertical guides of the shaft, and with safety dogs or catches which engage with such guides or with strips or pieces extending parallel therewith in the shaft.

My invention relates to the cage which is to support or receive the car, cab, or platform, and to safety attachments which are carried upon the said cage. I

Among the various kinds of safety attachments which have been devised, those which are now considered best consist of metal dogs or pivoted pieces carried upon the cage and safety-strips of wood secured in the shaft parallel with the vertical guides. So long as the speed of the elevator-cage in descending is only normal, the pointed or sharpedged dogs or pieces are held within their cases, and are not allowed to protrude therefrom and catch into the wood safety-strips; but when the speed of descent becomes too great, either by reason of the hoisting rope or cable parting or from any other cause, the safety dogs or catches are acted upon by a spring,and are caused to protrude from their sheaths or cases and to catch into the wood safety-strips. When thus released or thrown into action,the dogs or catches the several parts relating to the safety-dogs and appurtenances and the guiding blocks or shoes are so combined with the component and principal parts of the cage as to be confined within room or space which would otherwise be vacant, and to produce a very strong and light structure which possesses in a high degree the necessary elements of rigidity, compactness, and safety. 6c

In order to conduce to a clear understanding of my invention, I will first give a general description of a cage and its appurtenances in which are comprised all the features of my invention, premising, however, that some features of my invention which relate to the safety devices and guiding blocks or shoes may be embodied in cages of other construction. The top and bottom portions of the cage are severally composed of two channel-bars or pieces of channel-iron placed back to back with their flanges presented outward, and the upright portions of the cage consist of upright chan nel-bars or channel-iron, two uprights being preferably employed at opposite sides of the cage. The channel uprights have their flanges presented outward,and are securely bolted or riveted at their lower ends between the two bottom channels of the cage and at their upper ends between the two top channels there of, thereby forming a very strong and light skeleton frame or cage; 1

In the space formed between the flanges of the channel uprights, and at the top and bottom thereof, I secure a block or casting in which are fitted the shoes or gibs for sliding upon the guiding-uprights in the shaft. These shoes or gibs are secured by bolts, which are inserted loosely through the back and sides of the block or casting and are tapped into the 0 shoes or gibs. I

hen in use, the shoes or gibs are always held back strongly in their seats in the guideblock which supports them. Vhen the shoes or gibs become reduced by wear, the bolts 5 which hold them are loosened and liners are in troduced behind them, after which the bolts are tightened to again clamp the shoes or gibs firmly in their seats. In this wayI avoid any rattling or chattering of the shoes or gibs, as 10c is likely to take place when they are set up by set-screws to compensate for wear. In the form and closed hack ofthe cavity.

space between the flanges at each end of one of the bottom channels of the cage I bolt a. strong block or piece, in which is pivoted a safety dog, which is free to work through a slot in the back of the channel. The cavity in the block is closed at the baclgand conforms to the back of the dog, so that in case the pivot of the dog should give way under strain the dog will beheld to its work by the The upper wall or top of the cavity in the said block and the top of the dog are so shaped that the top of the cavity forms a rigid stop to arrest the movement of the dog and to limit its pro trusi'on from its holder into the wood safetystrip.

In order to provide greater security against the falling of the cage,l provide one of the top channels thereof with a similar recessed block or dog holder and dog ateach end. If the upper dogs had only the same degree of pro trusion as the lower dogs, and followed the same path, then the upper dogs would havea hold on the safety strip only until the cage had fallen its height, and I therefore construct the upper dogs and their recessed holders so as to allow the upper dogs to protrude twice the distance of the lower dogs, or thereabout, so that they will have a hold on the safetystrips even after they have been planed or cut away by the lower dogs. The upper and lower dogs have on theirpivotsarms which are connected by rods with each other and with the usual safety appliances at the top of the cage, and I provide for a greater inward movement or protrusion of the upper dogs from their holders by making the arms of the pivots of the lower dogs of greater length than the arms on the pivots of the upper dogs, and

consequently an equal movement at the ends of the arms of the lower dogs will throw them inward to a less degree than the same movement at the ends of the shorter arms of the upper dogs.

Difficulty has heretofore been experienced by reason of the wood safety-strips warping and getting out of parallelism with the guides in the shaft. To obviate this I construct each strip of two, three, or more parallel sections or pieces of the same wood or different woods glued together and forming a multiple safetystrip. When the safetystripis made of a single piece, it is liable to split in advance of the safetydog, and so render the dog less effective in its operation. In order to prevent the strip from so splitting, I employ a multiple strip as above described, and arrange it so that the dog will act upon the edges of the several sections which compose the strip. The grain of the several sections will not be coincident, and hence they will not tend to split in the same lines, and the dog will be rendered more effective.

The invention consists in novel combina tions, which are shown in the drawings and hereinafter described, and which are pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a cage embodying my invention, portions of the uprights being broken away to reduce the height of the figure. Fig. 2 is an elevation, the plane of View being at right angles to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a .horizontal section on the dotted line :0 m, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectional View representing the upper and lower safety-dogs, their holders, one of the top and bottom channels of the cage, and portions of a safety-strip, and a rod whereby the said upper and lower dogs are connected. Fig. 5 is a back View of one of the dog-holders and a portion of the channel with which it is connected. Fig. 6 isahorizontalsection of aportion of one of the channels, a safety-dog and its holder, and a transverse section of a safetystrip; and Fig. 7 is a horizontal section of one of the guides, a safety-strip attached thereto, and one of the upright channels, including a plan of the guiding blocks or shoes fitted to said channel upright. Figs. 4 to 7, inclusive,

are on a much larger scale than Figs. 1, 2,-

and 3.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A A designate the channel-bars or channels, which in this example of my invention constitute the bottom of the cage, and BB designate a similar pair of channelbars or channe1s.which constitute the top of the cage. Each pair of bars A A and B B are placed back to back, or have their flanges presented outwardly, and the two pairs are connected by upright channels 0, one on each side. The end portions of the uprights are placed be- .tween the pairs of top and bottom channels near their ends, and are securely bolted or riveted to them, thereby forming a light and yet strong and rigid frame or cage.

D D designate the guides on which the cage slides vertically, and the gibs or shoes of the cage for engaging with said guides are held in the space between the outwardly-projecting flanges of the uprights O, as shown best in Fig. 7.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the upright channels G project somewhat below the bottom channels, A A, and guiding gibs or shoes are provided in the portion of the uprights be low the bottom channels, and also just below the top channels B B. The gibs or shoes might be elsewhere arranged, if desired.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 7, a a a designate gibs or shoes, which bear on both sides and the edges ofthe guidesD, and which may be of brass or other material. As here shown, each gib or shoe has a facing, a*, of

Babbitt metal, which is dovetailed intoit, and

thereby securely held.

At each of the four points where guiding gibs or shoes a a a are placed is a cast-metal block or shoe-holder, G, the form of whichis best shown in Fig. 7. The back of this block or shoe-holder conforms to the space between the flanges of the upright channel U, and it is grooved to form seats for the gibs or shoes a a a. The gib or shoe a at the edge of the guide D is secured in place by bolts 1), which are inserted through the back of the channel and block 0, and are tapped into the gib or shoe a. The gibs or shoes a a at opposite sides of the guide D are secured in place by bolts or screws I), inserted through the block or holder 0 and tapped into the gibs or shoes to a. As the bolts I) pass through the block or holder 0, they secure and hold the latter in place between the flanges of the upright channels 0, and it will be understood that by tightening the bolts b b the gibs or shoes a a can be drawn back firmly and rigidly to their seats in the holder G, and there held during operation. This means of securing or hold ing the gibs or shoes avoids any tendency of their chattering or rattling, as is liable to be the case when the gibs or shoes are set up against the guides by set-screws to compensate for wear. As the gibs or shoes a a a become reduced by wear their securing-bolts b b b are to be loosened and one or more liners, or thin pieces of metal placed behind the gibs or shoes, as is shown in Fig. 7, after which the bolts are again tightened to draw the gibs or shoes back firmly in their seats. It will be observed that by arranging the holder 0 between the flanges of the upright channels 0 they occupy space which would otherwise be vacant, and are sustained and strengthened by the channels.

Against each guide D is secured a safetystrip, E, and the bottom channel, A, near each end, is provided with a safety dog or catch, F, for engaging therewith. For greater security, I have shown the top channel, B, as also provided near each end with a safety dog or catch. F, for engaging with the strip E. The construction of these dogs and means for holding and sustaining them are best shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, but also in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

Near the ends of the top and bottom channels, B A, are secured blocks G,each of which contains and holds a dog, F or F. Each block or dog-holder is titted to the flanged face of the channel A or B, and is securely fastened between the flanges thereof by bolts 0 or rivets. Therefore it will be seen that each block or dog-holder G occupies space which would otherwise be vacant, and is sustained and strengthened by the channel-iron between the flanges of which it is secured. Each block or holder G has a cavity or recess, (I, closed at the back, and through which extends a pin or pivot, c, on which is fitted the dog F or F. As here shown, each dog has a square hole or eye, and the pin e a squared porti'on, e, fitted thereto. The round portion 6* of the pin is smaller on one side of the square than at the other, and hence the pin can be slipped directly into the holder from one side thereof and through the dog F or E, which has previously been placed in the recess cl. Each of the pins e of the dogs is provided with an arm, whereby it may be turned; but the arms f of I the lower dogs, F, are longer than the arms f of the upper dogs, F, for a purpose hereinafter described. The arms f f of the dogs, on each side of the cage, are connected by a rod, having slots or yokes g to receive said arms, and at their upper ends these rods 9 are connected by a cross-piece, 9 At the top the cage is provided with a well-known hanger or loop, h, in which the hoistingcables are to be secured, and the safety appliances are of well-known construction, and are not here claimed. Below the top portions of the cage is arranged a spring, H, which is connected with the cross-piece g and which, during the normal operation of the cage, is held compressed by toggle-leversz' i, the center joint of which is held in the position shown by a lever, j, one end of which constitutes a latch, j, to hold toggle-levers t t in the position shown, and the other end of which is connected with the spindle of a governor, I. Governors of this character are frequently used on elevators, and are rotated by a rope or cable which is suspended from top to bottom of the shaft, and is deflected over suitable pulleys and around the governor-pulley I. The governor is rotated by the movement of the cage along this stationary rope or cable, and the speed of rotation will of course vary with the speed of movement of the car or cage. Normally the spring H is held under tension, and the rods and cross-piece g g are held in their uppermost position,with the safety-dogs F F sheathed within their holders G, as shown in Fig. 4. \Vhen, however, the speed of the 'cage in descending becomes greater than is desirahle,because of the hoisting-cable giving way or for any other reason, the action of the governor I trips the lever j and releases the toggle i 5 from the latch j, thereby allowing the spring H to act. The said spring thereupon throws down the cross-piece g and rods g, and, turning the dog-pivots e, throws the dogs out from their holders and into engagement with the safety-strips E, and they are held in strong engagement with the strips by the very shape of the dogs and the downward movement of the car. \Vhen the upper and lower dogs are used, it is obvious that if they both moved in the same vertical path and engaged with the safety'st-ri p to the same depth the upper dog, F, would offer a resistance only until the cage had descended its height, and that during the further movement the strip would be planed away in advance of the upper dog by the action of the lower dog. I therefore construct the upper dog, F, and its holder so that that dog may protrude from the holder and engage with the safety-strip twice as far as, or, at least, farther than, the lower dog. The upper surface of each dog and the top of the recess din its holder are constructed to allow the desired movement of the dog, and, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4, the lower dog, F, will be permitted to move only to the position shown,while the upper dog, F, can engage almost or quite twice the depth of the lower dog. In order that the deeper engagement of the upper dog shall not strain the connections, I make the arm f on the pin 6 of the lower dog, F, of greater length than the armf on the pin 6 of the upper dog, F.

As clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the bottom and top channels, A B, which carry the safety-dogs F F, are slotted at k for the passage of the dogs through them. It is also of great advantage to have the cavity din the dog-holder G closed at the back and shaped to conform to the back of the dog, for the latter will then be sustained and held to its work even if its pivotpin 6 should break.

As best shown in Figs. 6 and 7, I prefer to employ multiple safety-strips E, or strips composed of a number of sections glued together and made of the same or different woods. Such a multiple safety-strip will be far less liable to warp than one made in one piece, and will retain its position parallel with the guides. The multiple safety-strip is also desirable because the sections of which it is composed are presented edgewise to the action of the safety-dog F or F, as shown in Fig. 6, and as the grain of the several sections will not be coincident the strip will nothave so great a tendency to split in advance of the dog as when made of a single piece, and hence will afiord better holdingground for the dogs and a higher degree of safety.

I have here shown the channels A B of the cage as flared outward slightly at one end, and as having attached to them bearings Z, the purpose of which is clearly set forth in an other application filed in 1884,.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an elevator-cage, the combination, with a top portion and uprights, of a bottom portion composed of two channelbars, A A, placed back to back, with their flanges presented outward and receiving the uprights between them, the ends of the bar A being prolonged beyond the uprights, and safetydogs carried by the projecting end portions of said bar A, substantially as herein described.

2. In an elevator-cage, the combination, with a top and bottom portion, each consist ing of parallel bars or pieces, of uprights O G, consisting of channel bars having their flanges presented outward, and secured at their lower ends between the parallel bars or pieces of the bottom portion, and at their upper ends between the parallel bars or pieces of the top portion, the whole forming a rigid and unyielding structure,substantially as here in described.

3. In an elevator-cage, the combination of the bottom portion composed of channel-bars A A, having their flanges presented outward, the top portion composed of channel-bars B B, also having their flanges presented outward, and the uprights consisting of channelbars 0 0, having their flanges presented outward and secured at their lower ends between the channel-bars A A, and at their upper ends between the channel-bars B B, all substantially as herein described.

4. In an elevator-cage, the combination, with the top and bottom, of uprights consisting of channel-bars having their flanges pre sented outward, and guiding gibs or shoes arranged on the outer sides of said channel-bars and between the flanges thereof, substantially as herein described.

5. The combination, with an elevator-cage, of guiding gibs or shoes, at block or holder having seats to which said gibs or shoes are fitted, and bolts inserted through said block or holder and entering said gibs or shoes, whereby provision is afi'orded for clam ping and holding said gibs or shoes tightly to their seats, substantially as herein described.

6. The combination, with an elevator-cage having uprights consisting of channel-bars with their flanges presented outward, of blocks or holders fittingthe exterior faces of said uprights between their flanges, gibs or shoes fitting seats in said blocks or holders, and bolts inserted through said blocks or holders and into said gibs or shoes, and serving to hold said gibs or shoes tightly in their seats, substantially as herein described.

7. The combination,with the uprights O and the blocks or holders 0, fitting between the flanges thereof, of the gibs or shoes a a, the bolts b, inserted through the back of the uprights and the blocks or holders and entering the gibs or shoes a, and the bolts I), insert ed through the blocks orholders and entering the gibs or shoes a, substantially as herein described.

8. The combination, with an elevator-cage, of safety-dogs and holders therefor secured to the top and bottom portions of the cage, rods connecting the dogs which are at the top and bottom of the cage, and a single safety apparatus at the top of the cage, whereby said rods and both the upper and lower dogs are controlled, substantially as herein described.

9. The combination, with an elevator-cage, of safety-dogs and theirholders secured to the bottom portion of the cage, and other safetydogs and their holders at the top portion of the cage, and safety-stripswithwhich both upper and lower dogs engage, the dogs and their holders being constructed to permit the upper dogs to engage the safety-strips more deeply than the lower dogs, substantially as herein described.

10. The combination,with an elevator-cage, of safety-dogs pivoted at the top and bottom of the cage, arms projecting from the pivots of the safety-dogs, the arms on the pivots of the lower dogs being longer than those on the pivots of the upper dogs, and rods connecting the upper with the lower arms, substantially as herein described.

11. The combination,with an elevator-cage, of safety-dogs and holders therefor,comprisi ng cavities within which the dogs are pivoted,

and the backs of which are closed and conform in shape to the backs of the dogs, substantially as herein described.

12. The combination, with the dog-holder G, of the dog F, fitting therein and having an eye to receive its pivot, and the pin 6, having round portions of different diameter fitted to bearings in the holder, and an intermediate portion, 6, adapted to look into the eye of the dog,whereby the pin and dog are caused to turn together in the holder, substantially as herein described.

13. The combination, with an elevator-cage having horizontal portions comprising a channel-bar the flanges of which are presented outward, of a safety-dog and a holder therefor, consisting of a block or casting fitting and secured in the flanged face of the channel'bar, and within which the said dog is pivoted,substantially as herein described.

14. The combination, with the dog-holder G, having a closed back and a cavity, d, of the channel-bar A, slotted opposite the said cavity, and the safety-dog F, pivoted in said cavity, substantially as herein described.

15. The combination,with an elevator-cage and guides therefor, 0g safety-dogs upon the cage and multiple safety-strips secured parallel with the guides, and each composed of two or more strips of wood glued together, substantially as herein described.

16. The combination,with an elevator-cage and guides therefor, of safety-dogs upon the cage, and multiple safety-strips severally composed of sections with the edges of which said dogs are arranged to engage, substantially as herein described.

17. The combination, in an elevator-cage, of the bottom andtop channels, A A B B, hav ing their flanges presented outward, the up right channel-bars C,also having their flanges presented outward, the blocks or dog-holders G, fitting in and secured to the flanged faces of the channel-bar A, the safety-dogs F, con tained in said holders, and guiding gibs or shoes contained in the flanged faces of the upright channel-bars 0, all substantially as herein described.

' GEO. H. REYNOLDS. W'itnesses:

G. HALL, EMIL SCHWARTZ. 

